Greater New Orleans

Women Build gives new home, new hope to women and children

Erica Carson and Lakeisha Searight have a lot in common and plenty of reasons to give thanks. Both are single parents raising families of three; they are working mothers, and they are soon to be next door neighbors. And what brought them together makes them stronger.

Last week, Carson and Searight were joined by friends and family as well as community volunteers for a two-house dedication ceremony as partner families for the Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West Women Build Project. They were presented with ceremonial keys to their new homes as well as Bibles and hammers. With more than 100 volunteers from local churches and civic groups working to make the new houses possible, over two-thirds were women.

“This was a wonderful group of women and men who came together in order to help dreams come true,” said Womens Build Chairperson C.J. Ladner, who has been involved in the north shore community since her arrival 15 years ago. “Getting involved is the best way people can help their community thrive.”

With new leases on life based on foundations of stability, the new homeowners are thankful for the opportunity to provide a thriving environment for their families. Living within a few feet of each other, Carson and Searight can also take pride in the fact they gave each other a helping hand, having worked on the construction of both houses.

“I’d always depended on someone else for a place to live,” said Carson, who had lived in trailers, unaffordable apartments, cramped quarters that resulted in stifling conditions. “I put on my work gloves and volunteered at Habitat every Friday and Saturday to make this happen. My boss was very supportive by allowing me to take off on Fridays.”

Searight knew she had to take control of her life and put her family in a position that offered not only the chance to survive, but prosper. A big part in facilitating change was working with Habitat to fix her credit and budget a way to save for a down payment.

“This was a gift from God,” said Searight. “I feel so blessed to be able to have a home and be with my family. There are so many good people with Habitat that do so many good things. God is good.”